Warriors survive UV Green Lancers to improve to 3-1 in Champions League Elite Eight

LOOKING GOOD FOR USC

The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors bolstered their bid in the Elite Eight of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League after they slipped past the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers 78-74 last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The win ended USC’s stint in this stage with a 3-1 (win-loss) while dropping UV to an even 2-2. But the Warriors had to scrap it out against a Lancers squad that had momentum on its side after rousing wins over UAAP champions National University and NCAA runners-up Arellano University.

The Warriors led for most of the way and were still up 10, 64-54, at the end of the third. But the never-say-die Lancers came roaring back and pulled to within one, 73-74, behind the heads-up plays of Franz Arong and Steve Akomo.

But USC import Shooster Olago put some separation between them, 76-73, with two clutch free throws in the final 36.9 seconds.

UV pulled to within two after a split from the line by guard Jun Manzo and actually had a shot to tie or push ahead after USC forward Nico Magat flubbed a baseline jumper.

But John Abad failed to deliver, missing a floater against the defense of Olago. The Warriors’ Ian Tagapan sealed the deal with two from the charity stripe with 4.4 ticks left.

Olago paced the Warriors with 16 points while Cesafi Mythical Five member Victor Rabat added a dozen. Congolese Espoir Toyambe notched 10.

Akomo led UV with 22 markers while Arong pitched in 15 points. Abad wound up with just 10.

BOX SCORES:
USC (78) Olago 16, Rabat 12, Toyambi 10, Magat 9, Pepito 9, Igna 8, Tagapan 5, Lim 4, Malana 3, Adlawan 2.
UV (74) Akomo 22, Arong 15, Abad 10, Manzo 9, Octobre 7, Codilla 6, Perolino 2, Aguirre 2, Soliva 1.